November 11, 2008

BCS Could Be Moving to ESPN

Fox's agreement to telecast the Bowl Championship Series games — excluding the Rose Bowl — ends in January 2010, and the network's exclusive 30-day negotiating period to extend the deal ended Monday.

Now comes word that the BCS is considering a bid to move its games to ESPN/ABC.

John Ourand of Sports Business Daily reports that the BCS is seeking a four-year, $500 million deal for its games — the BCS title game, the Orange, Sugar and Fiesta bowls. ABC currently has rights to the Rose through 2014, but if ESPN gets the BCS rights, the network will be allowed to move the game to the cable network. The Rose Bowl has been on ABC for 21 years.

Ourand reports that ESPN's offer would increase the annual payout to the BCS to nearly $125 million. Fox's proposal was around $102. You do the math.

Fox reportedly will be given a chance to match the offer, but must make a decision by the end of the week.

While Awful Announcing says a move by to ESPN would be a good thing for the BCS, it's bad news if you've been clamoring for a playoff. A new deal means no playoff until the 2015 season.